HIV and respiratory infections in children.

Respiratory disease is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in children infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This review highlights recent data and developments that relate to the impact of HIV on respiratory infections particularly in African children. Autopsy and clinical studies continue to show that bacterial pneumonia and Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) are common respiratory infections and causes of death in regions where antiretroviral therapy and PCP prophylaxis are not routinely practiced. Recent studies of Zambian and South African children showed that pulmonary tuberculosis is more common in HIV-infected children than was previously recognized. The trial of bacterial conjugate vaccines in Johannesburg will provide important information of efficacy in an HIV endemic population. Prospective clinical descriptive and intervention studies are needed from different regions to guide clinical management and prevention of respiratory infections in HIV-infected children living in resource-poor countries.

Cavitary Rhodococcus equi pneumonia with endobronchial granulomas: report of an unusual case.

An unusual case of cavitary Rhodococcus equi pneumonia with endobronchial granulomas in congenital HIV infection is presented. The clinical features and radiological manifestations of pulmonary R. equi infection are discussed.

Congenital syphilis in an immunocompromised neonate: case report.

Syphilis is a notifiable and preventable disease, congenital syphilis more so. Consequently, attention has been recently focused on prenatal diagnosis of foetal syphilis by the use of ultrasonography apart from the conventional serologic screening. Congenital syphilis has not been reported from the Kingdom of Lesotho. We report the case of a 3.0 kg male neonate with florid joint and bone lesions of congenital syphilis associated with HIV infection seen at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Maseru, Kingdom of Lesotho. Co-existing HIV infection influences the clinical manifestation of syphilis, the progression of neurosyphilis and the response to standard therapy. The baby had the recommended standard treatment with good response and he was followed-up for a period of twelve months with serologic screening and radiographic evaluation.

Ganciclovir therapy for cytomegalovirus-associated liver disease in immunocompetent or immunocompromised children.

Ganciclovir therapy was given intravenously to 20 children with cytomegalovirus (CMV)-associated liver disease, of whom 6 were immunocompetent and 14 were immunocompromised (9 had AIDS and 5 had solid tumors). Immunocompetent children had isolated liver disease diagnosed at birth (4 children), or systemic congenital CMV infection including liver disease (2 children). Ganciclovir was used following two regimens: A) 5 mg/kg twice daily for 8 to 86 days (mean 21); B) 7.5 mg/kg twice daily for 14 days followed by 10 mg/kg three times weekly for three months. CMV infection was diagnosed by viral isolation, detection of viral antigens, and/or CMV DNA from blood and urine. All immunocompetent children had negative CMV culture and CMV DNA detection from blood and/or urine after 14 weeks of treatment. However, the three children who were treated with regimen B showed normal ALT levels at the end of the maintenance course, whereas the children who received ganciclovir with regimen A had normal ALT levels only after about 1 year. All children with tumors initiated regimen B, but only three, who had negative CMV detection and markedly decreased ALT levels, received full treatment; of the remaining two children, one recovered after only an initial course, and the other had therapy interrupted because of hepatic failure and died 9 days later. In contrast, the children with AIDS received several ganciclovir courses for different periods at the lower dosage: they generally improved during treatment but did not recover completely, and five children died with active CMV infections. Based on our study, CMV-associated liver disease can be efficiently treated with ganciclovir both in immunocompetent and immunodeficient children. However, a single ganciclovir course including a higher dosage and prolonged therapy appeared to be more effective than several courses with lower dosages.

Transmisión congénita de toxoplasma gondii durante la fase crónica en mujeres inmunocomprometidas / Congenital transmission of toxoplasma gondii during chronicity in immunocompromised women

La transmisión congénita de T. gondii que en la embarazada inmunocompetente ocurre sólo durante la fase inicial aguda de la infección materna, puede ocurrir en mujeres con toxoplasmosis crónica,cuando éstas presentan deficiencia inmunitaria. Al respecto se dan a conocer 10 casos publicados en la literatura extranjera, correspondiente 6 de ellos a mujeres infectadas con el VIH. La mayoría de los 12 niños infectos (incluye mellizos), nacieron aparentemente sanos, pero desarrollaron una toxoplasmosis severa durante los primeros meses de la vida. Los casos demuestran que la inmunodepresión de la embarazada facilita la transmisión transplacentaria del toxoplasma y que en el RN con infección doble, la infección con VIH acelera el desarrollo de una toxoplasmosis fatal y viceversa.A raíz de los casos expuestos se recomienda aplicar controles serológicos sistemáticos para toxoplasmosis en las embarazadas inmunocom-prometidas, especialmente aquellas infectadas con el virus del SIDA. Al respecto se entrega información sobre el significado del resultado serológico y tratamiento de las mujeres infectadas por toxoplasma, para disminuir el riesgo de la transmisión congénita del parásito oportunista y sobre el control de los respectivos hijos, que debe efectuarse a partir de su nacimiento

[Care for the Cuban child born to an HIV-seropositive mother]. / Atención al niño cubano hijo de madre seropositiva al VIH.

Up to this moment, 25 children have been born from mothers seropositive to HIV. Of these, only 12 who are seropositive have been studied. Four of these children had developed the disease (33.3%), and the route of transmission was a blood transfusion. From the moment they were born, these children had been followed up monthly at the out-patient service and the polymerase chain reaction test, as well as ELISA and western blot is performed at 3, 6, and 9 months of age. Also, the same test are performed at 18 and 36 months of age for diagnostic confirmation in order to know whether they are virus carriers.

[HIV infection in pregnancy and childhood]. / Die HIV-Infektion während der Schwangerschaft und im Kindesalter.

In two ongoing nationwide collaborative studies 375 children of 337 HIV infected mothers (Neonatal HIV Study [started in October 1986], C. Kind, M. D., St. Gall) and 154 pregnancies/induced abortions in 148 HIV infected women (HIV and Pregnancy [started in May 1989], Ch. Rudin, M. D., Basel) have been registered and studied to date. Experiences gained from the two ongoing projects are presented. Viral load during pregnancy seems to influence the vertical transmission rate. There are many differences between HIV infections in children and adults. This is also true for ophthalmologic involvement. Psychosocial problems may be prominent in the care of children born to HIV infected mothers. Recruitment of foster parents is the most serious problem in this context.

Oral lesions in children born to HIV-1 positive women.

A cohort of 69 children born to HIV-1 positive women was studied to evaluate types, prevalences and relationships to clinical stages of HIV-1-related oral lesions. In addition, relationships among C. albicans biotypes, clinical features of oral candidiasis and HIV-1 disease were investigated. C. albicans biotypes did not correlate with clinical features of oral lesions, disease stages and CD4+ lymphocyte count. Of 8 patients with recurrent oral candidiasis, 4 changed clinical features and 5 changed biotype. Our study pointed out the high frequency (28.9%) of oral lesions, especially caused by fungi and the importance of the examination of the oral cavity in children born to HIV-1 positive women.

[Neuro-AIDS in children]. / Neiro-SPID u detei.

The paper analyzes the results of studying nervous diseases in children with HIV infection. A total of 57 children aged 1.5 to 16 years who had different stages of AIDS were examined. HIV-related encephalopathy, encephalopathy with the polyneuropathy syndrome, encephalomyelopolyneuritis, mixed AIDS-related encephalopathy and perinatal encephalopathy, as well as the myopathic syndrome were identified. The affliction of the nervous system was more severe with an earlier history of infection. The clinical syndromes were supported by electromyographic indices.